1859 Indian Head Cent — First Year of Issue — Laurel Wreath

1859 Indian Head Cent — First Year of Issue — Laurel Wreath

Own an important piece of early American numismatic history with this 1859 Indian Head Cent, the first-year issue of one of the most recognizable and widely collected coin designs in United States history.

The Indian Head Cent series was produced from 1859 through 1909 and circulated during some of the most transformative decades in American history. Designed by James B. Longacre, the series remains a favorite among collectors of classic United States copper coinage.

The 1859 Indian Head Cent is particularly significant because it introduced the Indian Head design, replacing the short-lived Flying Eagle Cent that had been produced for circulation in 1857 and 1858.

The obverse features a left-facing portrait of Lady Liberty wearing a Native American-style feathered headdress. The headband is inscribed LIBERTY, while the inscription UNITED STATES OF AMERICA surrounds the portrait. The date 1859 appears beneath.

The reverse features a simple laurel wreath surrounding the denomination ONE CENT, tied with a ribbon at the bottom.

This reverse design is unique to the 1859 issue. Beginning in 1860, the Mint introduced a redesigned reverse featuring an oak wreath and a small shield at the top, making the 1859 Indian Head Cent a distinct one-year design type.

Unlike later bronze Indian Head Cents, the 1859 issue was struck in a copper-nickel alloy consisting of 88% copper and 12% nickel. This composition gives the coin a lighter appearance than the bronze cents introduced in 1864.

The coin was produced at the Philadelphia Mint, which was the only facility striking Indian Head Cents in 1859. No mint mark appears on the coin.

Issued during the presidency of James Buchanan, the 1859 Indian Head Cent entered circulation just two years before the outbreak of the American Civil War, making it an interesting artifact of the nation's antebellum period.

With an original mintage of 36,400,000 business strikes, the 1859 Indian Head Cent was produced in substantial quantities, although attractive, problem-free examples remain desirable among collectors.

Its status as the first year of the series and the only Indian Head Cent featuring the laurel wreath reverse makes it especially appealing to collectors assembling United States type sets.

Whether collected as part of a complete Indian Head Cent collection, an early American small-cent type set, or a broader collection of 19th-century United States coinage, the 1859 Indian Head Cent offers an appealing combination of historical significance, distinctive design, and collector interest.

Product Details

• Denomination: One Cent ($0.01 USD)

• Year: 1859

• Mint: Philadelphia (No Mint Mark)

• Series: Indian Head Cent (1859–1909)

• Type: Copper-Nickel Indian Head Cent, Laurel Wreath Reverse

• Original Mintage: 36,400,000 business strikes

• Composition: 88% Copper, 12% Nickel

• Standard Weight: 4.67 grams

• Diameter: 19 mm

• Designer: James B. Longacre

• Obverse: Left-facing Liberty wearing a feathered headdress

• Reverse: Laurel wreath surrounding ONE CENT, tied with a ribbon

• Mint Mark Location: None — Philadelphia issue

• Edge: Plain

• Condition: See product photographs for the exact coin offered

• Quantity: One individual coin

Please Note: This listing is for one specific 1859 Indian Head Cent. The coin pictured is the exact coin you will receive.